Question 1

The computer has been used in testing for

Accepted Answer

Computers are used in testing for presenting questions, interpreting results, and adapting difficulty levels based on the examinee's performance.

Question 2

The Model Penal Code contains provisions which prohibit the inclusion of the __________within the insanity defense.

Accepted Answer

The Model Penal Code excludes antisocial personality disorder from the insanity defense, as it is considered a personality disorder rather than a mental illness that impairs understanding of right and wrong.

Question 3

According to the ___________, a person is not responsible for criminal conduct if at the time of such conduct, as a result of mental disease or defect, he lacks substantial capacity either to appreciate the criminality wrongfulness) of his conduct or to conform his conduct to the requirements of the law.

Accepted Answer

The Model Penal Code provides a standard for legal insanity that includes the inability to appreciate the criminality of one's actions or to conform one's conduct to the law due to a mental disease or defect.

Question 4

The defendant's ability to participate with his lawyer in planning a defense is an important element of

Accepted Answer

Competency to stand trial requires that the defendant understands the proceedings and can assist in their own defense, which includes working with their lawyer.

Question 5

Incompetency to stand trial and legal insanity are

Accepted Answer

Incompetency to stand trial refers to a defendant's current ability to understand the proceedings and participate in their defense, while legal insanity pertains to the defendant's mental state at the time of the crime, specifically whether they could understand the nature or wrongfulness of their actions. These are separate legal concepts.

Question 6

The MacCAT-CA is less helpful when clients

Accepted Answer

The MacCAT-CA, or MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool for Clinical Research, may be less effective when clients put forth little effort, demonstrate cognitive impairment, or come from a diverse cultural background, as these factors can all impact the assessment's accuracy and reliability.

Question 7

Understanding, Reasoning, and Appreciation are three subscales on what trial competency screening test?

Accepted Answer

The MacCAT-CA (MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool-Criminal Adjudication) includes subscales for Understanding, Reasoning, and Appreciation, which are used to assess a defendant's competency to stand trial.

Question 8

A scoring report may include

Accepted Answer

The answer of A scoring report may include
...

Question 9

________typically provide brief scale-by-scale interpretation of test results and are particularly helpful when the results are conveyed to mental health professionals with little knowledge of the test in question.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ________typically provide brief scale-by-scale interpretation of test...

Question 10

The first automation of the entire psychological assessment process occurred at the

Accepted Answer

The first automation of the entire psychological assessment process occurred at the Salt Lake City VA Hospital. This was a significant step in integrating technology with psychological evaluations, allowing for more efficient and standardized testing processes.

Question 11

Phallometric assessment

Accepted Answer

Phallometric assessment is generally better at detecting that a normal person is normal (higher specificity) than detecting a deviant person is deviant (lower sensitivity).

Question 12

The Psychopathy Checklist-Revised PCL-R) is based on the 16 signs of a psychopathic personality first conceptualized by

Accepted Answer

The Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) is based on the 16 signs of a psychopathic personality first conceptualized by Hervey Cleckley in his seminal work, "The Mask of Sanity."

Question 13

One study found that inmates with high scores on the PCL-R were

Accepted Answer

The PCL-R (Psychopathy Checklist-Revised) is a psychological assessment tool used to evaluate the presence of psychopathy in individuals. Studies have shown that individuals with high scores on the PCL-R, indicating a higher level of psychopathic traits, are significantly more likely to engage in aggressive and violent behavior, including getting into fights. This is consistent with the understanding that psychopathy involves traits such as impulsivity, aggression, and a lack of empathy, which can contribute to a higher propensity for violent confrontations.

Question 14

A significant concern about the PCL-R is that

Accepted Answer

Examiner differences have been shown to account for a significant amount of variability in PCL-R scores, indicating that the subjective judgment of the examiner can influence the outcome of the assessment.

Question 15

Tests used in forensic assessment

Accepted Answer

Tests used in forensic assessment should be commercially available and well-documented, have a reliability of .8 or higher, and have been validated in a relevant population to ensure their accuracy and applicability in legal contexts.

Question 16

The use of computers to provide test interpretations can be traced to

Accepted Answer

The use of computers for test interpretations began at the Mayo Clinic in the early 1960s, marking a significant advancement in the field of psychological assessment and diagnostics.

Question 17

The Rogers Criminal Responsibility Assessment Scales consist of

Accepted Answer

The Rogers Criminal Responsibility Assessment Scales consist of a series of rating scales filled out by the examiner, designed to assess various aspects of a defendant's mental state at the time of the offense.

Question 18

Competency to stand trial is assessed by a defendant's ability to

Accepted Answer

Competency to stand trial is determined by both the defendant's ability to understand the proceedings against them and their ability to assist in their own defense.

Question 19

____________is being employed when a psychologist uses experience, intuition, and textbook knowledge to determine whether an MMPI profile indicates psychosis.

Accepted Answer

Clinical judgment involves the use of experience, intuition, and theoretical knowledge, such as that from textbooks, to make decisions or evaluations, as in determining the presence of psychosis from an MMPI profile.

Question 20

In the actuarial method,__________ formula is used to diagnose or predict behavior.

Accepted Answer

The actuarial method uses an empirically-derived formula to diagnose or predict behavior, relying on statistical data and analysis rather than clinical judgment.

Quiz 12: Legal Issues and the Future of Testing